Passengers were stranded on a Brighton-Edinburgh train after it hit a branch which had fallen off a nearby tree during flash floods.

All were back home today, a British Transport Police spokesman said.

About 160 people were on the Virgin train heading when the front carriage hit a branch at Beattock in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

Heavy rain caused a "small landslide" in the area, a police spokesman said.

The accident dislodged the fuel tank, disabling the train on the tracks.

Police said no one was injured in the accident, which happened just after 7.30pm yesterday.

The police spokesman could not confirm how long the passengers were stranded on the train.

Another train was brought up alongside to transport them to Carlisle last night, enabling all the passengers to continue their journey.